COMPRESSED LOAD CONFUSION

[David Milisock]

For the first loads in my 40X Rem. 222 with a new Shilen barrel, I started with new Win. brass, w/22gr. of Benchmark, up to 23.5 gr. Now I'm looking for all the accuracy this gun has to offer. I'd like to shoot the 40gr. V-Max. So I started with H4895 @ 23 gr., the neck was half full. The Speer book (#13) says 24grs. would be 'compressed. I've never shot compressed loads, so I'm a little 'goosey'. Then I got out the IMR 4198, many recommendations, 17.6 gr. are below the shoulder, 20gr. are at the bottom of the neck, 20.5 gr. (max Horn) compressed. Next was H335, 23gr. @ the shoulder break, 24gr @ the bottom of the neck, 25.8 full neck, compressed. Hornaday book list 26.6gr. as max. How much compression is reasonable? How are they filling the cases? I've read about 'drop tubes' and using an electric razor to vibrate the powder, I don't want to do that. My goal is to shoot tight groups (minute of gopher) and have a little speed on the bullet. I've been shooting quite a few years and never ran into this, so the cautious thing is ask for help. I know I can't get the speed of a 223 or 22-50, that's not what I'm looking for. I looked thru some old posts on compressed loads, it mentioned a few times that compressed powder can push the bullet out of the case, another problem I don't need.






rem

Not to be negative but I wouldn't worry whether a load is compressed on not. I'd aim for a load that's 95%+ and be concerned with powder burn rate. At 95% you are getting enough density for decent consistency.

Max velocity and case volume for the 222 and 223 with 40 grain in my experiance tend to eliminate even short cut extruded powders as slow as 4895. I had no luck with 4198 or H335 which is a spherical powder. I use a compressed charge of H322 which is a very small cut extruded powder in my 223. I don't like drop tubes I drop straight from my measure if that doesn't work easily I change powders.

I wouldn't worry about the brand of brass at this point, I'd look at a powder faily fast burning for the bullet weight, start low and work up to one that gets you near the max speed using a quality 222 formula, from Hornady or someone.

My Hornady book says 3,300+ with H322 with 40 grain. The max safe load would be as filled a case as possible and work loads up and down the scale until you get the accuracy/velocity bracket you want and not worry about a filled case. A faster powder will reduce case volume but spherical powders with this size of case volumes have not been successful for me.

I worked loads that were difficult for my 223, failing to get velocity because of lack of case volume. Once I found a powder that gave me the velocity I was looking for then I looked for my brass and worked the accuracy, ending with a mildly compressed load and good accuracy/velocity.